Disposal
of pet bodies is a service offered to
pet owners who choose to leave their deceased pet with their
veterinarian, pet shelter or humane organization. Some pet
cemeteries and pet crematories offer this service as well.
Method — In accordance with
local, state and federal guidelines, arrangements are made with a
third party either for placement in a landfill or rendering. Bodies
of pets to be placed in a landfill are usually discarded together
and covered with soil as part of the landfill’s routine operations.
Pet remains sent to be rendered are boiled down to fat and other
by- products, which can be recycled into many other products,
including pet foods, soap, makeup, toiletries, kitty litter and
fertilizer. (It should be noted that, while these methods may seem
callous, the options available to veterinarians, shelters and
businesses for pet disposal are becoming more limited and
restricted. In an earlier era, there were far fewer pets in this
country, and a lot more private land was available for burial of
pets. We also weren’t as concerned with pollution, protection and
preservation of the environment as we are today.)
Advantages — For some pet
owners, letting someone else handle all the details is the most
acceptable approach, and they are not concerned with how their
pet’s body is disposed of after death. Although there is a cost
involved, disposal is still less costly than most other options.
Some owners, particularly those with very large pets such as
horses and llamas, may see this as a sensible way to return their
pets’ bodies to the earth, or to reuse or recycle their pets’
bodies after death.
Disadvantages — While there
are specific rules and regulations governing the disposal of human
remains, most states have no such laws applying to the disposal of
pets. Landfills can be privately or publicly owned and
operated, and a separate area for disposal of pets remains may be
designated, although this is seldom the case. When you leave all the
arrangements to your veterinarian, local pet shelter or private
business, you may have no control over the handling of your pet’s
remains. As long as that is satisfactory to you, there is no problem
with this option. On the other hand, some owners may care very much
about what will happen to their pet’s body when they leave its
disposal to a third party, but they may feel too intimidated or
embarrassed to ask! You have a right to know where your pet’s body
will be taken and if your pet’s remains will be placed in a landfill
or rendered. Ideally you should ask for and receive — preferably in
advance of your pet’s death — descriptions of disposal options and
costs, in writing, and your expectation that your pet’s body be
cared for with dignity should be respected.
Communal Cremation
is a commonly used option, and a sensible one, as long as it’s not
important to you that your pet is cremated separately, and you do
not wish to have your pet’s cremains returned to you.
Method — Together with several
other pet bodies, your pet’s body is reduced to mineral form by
exposure to intense heat. Thus your pet’s remains, properly termed “cremains,”
are co-mingled with those of several other pets. Communal cremains can be discarded, or scattered or buried on the grounds of
a pet cemetery, usually in an area set-aside for that purpose.
Advantage — Cost of communal
cremation is relatively low compared with separate cremation.
Disadvantages — Since cremains
are co-mingled, it will not be possible to separate one pet’s
cremains from those of another, so you’ll never have access to your
pet’s cremains, no matter how much you may wish to have them later.
Separate Cremation
is done when the owner wants only the cremains of his or her own pet
returned, to scatter, to bury or to keep.
Method — The pet’s remains
are kept separate from those of other pets in the cremation chamber,
as the individual pet’s body is returned to its elements through
intense heat and evaporation. The process is completed in one or two
hours and results in a quantity of ash and fragments of bone, which
are processed, reduced, and returned to the owner in a temporary or
pre-purchased container or urn. Cremated remains are odorless and
can be stored indefinitely, although the amount will vary depending
on the pet’s overall body structure. Urns (permanent receptacles
specially made to hold cremains) are available in a wide variety of
styles, shapes, sizes and materials.
Advantages — You can choose to
view your pet prior to the cremation, and you can ask to be present
while your pet is cremated. Separate cremation also offers you
greater flexibility than any other option. For example, you can:
- Place your pet’s cremains in a
memorial container that you can take with you wherever you move.
- Display your pet’s cremains in a
special container or in a special place of honor in your home.
- Help other family members maintain
a bond with your pet by dividing the pet’s cremains among them.
- Pick a place in the yard or in the
country that holds special memories for you and your pet, and bury
or scatter the cremains there, as a way of releasing your pet’s
body and spirit back to the earth and sky.
- Keep your pet’s cremains in an urn
that is sealed in a niche, then placed in a columbarium (an
arrangement of niches, indoors or outdoors) at a pet cemetery or
crematory.
- Although costs vary, cremation is
readily available, and arrangements can be made well in advance.
Disadvantages — Separate
cremation is more expensive than a communal one. Unfortunately, the
only way to make certain that the cremains returned to you belong to
your pet is for you to be present while your pet is cremated. Even
if you choose not to witness the cremation, you should ask whether
it is permitted. Reputable pet crematories will respect your wishes
in this matter, and your suspicions should be raised if they don’t.
Key Questions to Ask:
- Is the pet crematory a reputable
one (well established, with a solid reputation in the community)?
- What services are available, and
what are the costs? (Descriptions, fees and contracts should be in
writing.)
- Are pre-planning and pre-payment
plans available?
- Does the crematory offer separate
cremation, and how is that defined?
- Does the crematory permit you to
be present during the cremation of your pet?
- Can you tour the facility?
- Will a crematory representative
pick up and transport your pet’s remains?
- Will the crematory prepare your
pet’s body for viewing or for a memorial service?
- How will your pet’s cremains be
returned to you, and in what time frame?
Communal Burial
is a service offered to veterinarians by
some pet shelters and pet cemeteries. Having considered your own
values, emotional needs and financial resources, you may conclude
that your pet’s after-death care does not warrant significant cost
or ceremony. Recall that, for some, an pet’s body after death is
simply an empty shell that has no meaning once the pet’s spirit has
left it. If that is your belief, you may feel comfortable asking
your veterinarian to make arrangements for communal burial of your
pet, or you can investigate for yourself which organizations or
businesses in your community provide this service.
Method — Your pet is buried
along with many other pets in a single mass grave at an pet
shelter, or on the grounds of a pet cemetery, or at a city landfill.
Although landfill grounds may be set aside specifically for the
burial of pets, don’t assume that is the case. We urge you to
check with your veterinarian or pet shelter about the exact
nature of communal burial in your community. As with other options,
don’t be afraid to ask!
Advantage — Communal burial is
one of the least expensive options available.
Disadvantage — Because of
environmental restrictions and lack of affordable land, communal
burial is no longer an option in many parts of the country.
Home Burial
is an option that appeals to many pet
owners, because the pet’s final resting place is on the pet
owner’s property.
Method — The pet should be
kept in the coolest part of your home until the grave is prepared.
Spread a sheet of plastic on the floor, to protect it against body
fluids that are normally released after death. Place a blanket or
towel over the plastic, then position your pet’s body on top, with
the head and legs tucked into a sleep-like position. (Positioning is
especially important if you’ll be placing your pet’s body in a
casket-like container some time later, because the body will
normally stiffen and cool within hours after death.) It is normal
for your pet’s eyes and mouth to be open, with the tongue slightly
protruding.
At this time you can touch, stroke,
hold and groom your pet’s body as you wish. If you haven’t already
done so, you may want to take a feather, a paw print, or a clipping
of your pet’s fur.
Select a gravesite that is
sufficiently far enough away from water, gas and electrical lines,
and deep enough to prevent the escape of odors that could attract
other pets (at least three feet down). When you’re ready, place
your pet’s remains — along with a favorite toy, blanket or other
special memento you may wish to include — in a thick liner bag, then
enclose in a tight-fitting container made of wood, metal or plastic.
(Commercially made caskets for pet burial are available, as are
memorial markers for gravesites.)
Advantages — For those who
live in rural areas or suburban communities that allow it, home
burial is a desirable option. The cost is low; the site and the
memorial ceremony can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose,
and you can visit your pet’s grave whenever you wish.
Disadvantages — Depending on
local ordinances, home burial may be prohibited in your community.
We suggest that you call and ask for a copy of the rules and
regulations that govern this in your community. If your pet is
very large and your property is not, you may face restrictions in a
rural area as well. And the day may come when you must sell your
property, move away and leave your pet’s remains behind. (Note that,
for a fee, some pet cemeteries or crematories will exhume and
transport your pet’s remains for burial in another location.
Similarly, you can arrange with some businesses for the exhumation,
cremation and return of your pet’s remains. PALS offers such
services.
Cemetery Burial
is a way of having your pet’s body
transported, prepared and buried in an individually marked plot.
While some may consider this a little eccentric, extravagant or odd,
keep in mind that we humans have buried our pets in ceremonial
fashion for thousands of years. Taking responsibility for the proper
after-death care of your pet is a very positive and desirable
approach, and you should feel free to choose this or any other
option with- out embarrassment. Just be aware that, although there
are over 600 pet cemeteries throughout the United States, their
services are not standardized and can vary widely both in quality
and cost. The information that follows will guide you as you explore
this option.
Method — Working directly with
the pet cemetery representative, you can arrange to have your
pet’s remains picked up from your home or from your
veterinarian’s office when the time comes. Services offered vary
with the provider, but may include a casket, a viewing (that is,
seeing your pet before burial), a memorial service, a burial plot or
vault, a memorial marker or a monument, and perpetual maintenance of
the burial plot. Burial can be in the ground or above the ground,
although mausoleum burial (when the pet’s casket is sealed in a
crypt) is not offered by every pet cemetery. Costs vary
considerably, depending on how simple or elaborate your choices are.
Advantages — A pet cemetery
should offer exactly what a regular cemetery does: the peace of mind
that comes with knowing you’re paying a fitting tribute to a
cherished friend or family member. Your pet’s grave site will be
well cared for, in a peaceful, quiet setting that you can visit at
any time — and the grave will be properly tended even if you move
away.
Disadvantages — You may still
feel as if you’re leaving your deceased pet behind if you move. This
option may be too costly for you, especially if you have other pets.
Few states have laws regulating the operation of pet cemeteries, and
adherence to minimum standards is not mandatory. Therefore it falls
to you, the consumer, to investigate, compare and evaluate the
quality of the services offered by pet cemeteries. Because of the
time and effort required, once again we urge you to arm yourself
with this information in advance of the death of your pet.
A reputable pet cemetery should be
willing to give you satisfactory answers to all of your questions —
and if that’s not what you experience, we suggest you consider going
elsewhere.
Key Questions to Ask:
- Is the pet cemetery well
established, with a solid reputation in the community?
- How long has the pet cemetery been
in business?
- Is the land deed-restricted (for
use only as a pet cemetery)?
- Is the property dedicated and
protected (with an irrevocable trust or perpetual care fund) to
ensure that the land will always remain a pet cemetery and the
gravesites will always be maintained? At what cost?
- What services are available, and
what are the costs? (Descriptions, fees and contracts should be in
writing.)
- Are pre-planning and pre-payment
plans available?
- Will the pet cemetery
representative pick up and transport your pet’s body?
- Will the pet cemetery prepare your
pet’s body for viewing?
- Can you tour the facilities?
- Can you be present at your pet’s
burial, and view your pet beforehand?
- Are there any restrictions on
visiting your pet’s grave?
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